Cambridge's largest independent sports shop is closing down after 86 years.

Hobbs Intersport, on Sidney Street, will go online only after struggling "with the rising costs of operating a business on the High Street".

The store was first opened in 1931 in Trinity Street by Sidney Hobbs, younger brother of Sir John "Jack" Hobbs, the Cambridge batsmen who is widely regarded as one of the best ever.

Sir Jack is still the leading run-scorer and century-maker in first-class cricket, with 61,760 runs and 199 centuries. He was knighted in 1953.

Hobbs remained a family run business until 2015, until it was acquired by Jarrold of Norwich.

But a statement which appeared on the store's website read: "With the rising costs of operating a business on the high street, we have decided to close our Cambridge store and move the business online.

"We will be offering free postage on returns and exchanges via our website on all purchases made in store for a period of 28 days after we close. Your statutory rights will not be affected.

"Our Norwich branch - Pilch Sport is unaffected and will continue to support hobbssports.co.uk"

The store will close later this summer, after a closing down sale which starts this week.

Other shops Cambridge has lost

Shops closing due to the high prices in Cambridge is not unfamiliar notion.

The beloved Cambridge Toy Shop, which was housed in Sussex Street for 12 years, was forced to close at the end of last year due to "high rent, parking charges and stiff online competition".

The Cambridge Toy Shop in Sussex Street closed at the end of last year

Earlier last year, another city toy store, When I Was A Kid, in Trinity Street, also announced it was shutting up shop.

Owner Paul Warner also blamed the changing habits of internet shopping and high rents for the store's closure after two years’ trading.

He told the News: “Our magical toy shop can no longer survive in the city that Cambridge has become. It really is a sad day, not just for us but for Cambridge too if a shop like ours can’t survive.”